Our Faculty
Dr. Isaac "Ike" Lassiter
Headmaster
Dr. Lassiter, a native Tennessean, received his doctorate in science education from Georgia State University in Atlanta. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University and a bachelor’s with honors in engineering from Georgia Tech. Dr. Lassiter has been married to his wife, Sally for thirty-six years. They are the proud parents of seven grown children, and are enjoying being closer to four grandchildren who live in Richmond.
(540) 578-1242
Mrs. Teresa Patton
Academic Director
Fourth-Fifth Grade Math
Teresa received her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in Child Development and Elementary Education and has been teaching in public, private and home-schooling environments for almost 20 years. In addition to teaching, she has been very active in curriculum development for Redeemer.
Mrs. Jane Fowler
Lead Teacher
History & Literature, Fourth-Fifth Grade
Jane received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in Middle School Education and has been teaching in public, private and home-schooling environments for 16 years. She currently teaches history and literature in the middle school, where she finds the integration of the two subjects to be an asset to the study of both.
Mrs. Marian Bartenhagen
Second-Third Grade
Marian holds an Undergraduate Education degree from Mary Washington College and has a master’s degree in Curriculum Development from George Mason University. She was a 1996 nominee for the Washington Post "Teacher of the Year" award. Prior to joining the faculty at Redeemer, Marian taught second grade for 20 years in northern Virginia public schools.
Mrs. Laura Carpenter
Art & Art History
Laura graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Media Arts and Design and has since worked in a variety of teaching environments for elementary and middle school children. She believes that everyone can learn to draw and utilize the principles of design. It is her passion to use the study of art history as a way to gain further depth and context to history in general. She is excited about conveying the beauty and significance of art to the students of RCS.
Mrs. Heather Dowdy
Science and Mathematics
Heather graduated summa cum laude from James Madison University with distinction in Geology and a minor in Middle Education. She has worked in both public and private settings as a teacher, a tutor, and an aid to students of all ability levels. She has also enjoyed helping as a teacher in the after school program and ESL classes through her church’s Hispanic ministry. She is thankful for the opportunity to teach science in an environment where she can point her students toward the wonderful Creator of this magnificent world in which we live.
Mr. Jeremiah Forshey
Logic, Literature & Mathematics
Jeremiah graduated summa cum laude from Bridgewater College with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and English. He holds a master's degree in English literature from James Madison University. Before joining the faculty of at RCS, his teaching experience included several years of private tutoring in Algebra and Geometry, logic class for home-schooled students, and composition classes at James Madison University. He thoroughly enjoys introducing students to the challenging but rewarding study of formal logic.
Mr. Arthur Rogers
Literature, Latin and Bible
Arthur earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Lyon College, where he graduated summa cum laude and second in his class. He then completed a master’s degree at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, where he was a lecturer in the program for Master of Arts in Liberal Studies. He is currently working on a Ph.D. in Medieval English Literature at the University of Virginia. Being an instructor of Latin, however, he considers his most enjoyable and rewarding teaching experience. He is married to Christina Rogers, the 1st grade teacher.
Mrs. Christina Rogers
First Grade
Christina Rogers received her bachelor’s degree in Art History from the University of Virginia. She also earned a master’s degree in Church Ministries with a concentration in Christian Education from Duke Divinity School. Before coming to Redeemer, she taught at a classical Christian school in Lynchburg, Virginia for two years. She thoroughly enjoys the daily challenge of teaching children in the Grammar stage. She is married to Arthur Rogers, Redeemer’s Latin and Bible teacher.
Mrs. Shernae Storella
Kindergarten
Shernae received her bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Recreation Parks and Tourism. After graduating, she returned to VCU taking educational courses for the lower elementary level. She home-schooled her two children for seven years, served as an Awana Leader, chaired a K-5 Children's Ministry, worked in a Daycare Facility and a parochial school. Shernae served as Redeemer's Kindergarten teacher for two years. After taking a year off, she looks forward to returning to Redeemer doing what she loves: teaching children how big and fun learning is. Shernae counts it an honor and a privilege to teach the children of our future.
Mrs. Amy Underwood
Geography and Physical Education
Amy received her bachelor's degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. She has served as an officer in the United States Army and also worked as an engineer for Mobil Oil Corporation. Amy is married and has three children whom she home-schooled prior to teaching at Redeemer. Amy teaches Geography and Physical Education at Redeemer and is passionate about helping children develop habits that will keep them physically fit throughout their lives.
Mrs. Kathleen Wissinger
Music
Kathleen (Kath) has been directing youth handbells for 20 years at Massanutten Presbyterian Church. A composer with over 50 pieces in print, Kath often writes focused pedagogical pieces for her music classes, many which have been published (Accolade, Grand Entry, Hyfrydol, A Tree and a Star, Campana Sonos, Many and Great, Laudare and others.) Kath directs and teaches at national, regional and local handbell events. She is on the Boards for Area III AGEHR (The American Guild of Handbell Ringers) and Harrisonburg Music Teachers Association and teaches piano in her home studio. Kath has a degree in geology from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and worked as a National Park Service Ranger and environmental educator. She loves bells and knows they are a superb tool for teaching music theory and performance and for developing fellowship and cooperation.
